Gerlind U. C. Lehmann, Johannes Strauß and Reinhard Lakes-Harlan (2007):
Listening when there is no sexual signalling? Maintenance of hearing in the
asexual bushcricket Poecilimon intermedius. J. Comp. Physiol. A, 193(5),
537-545.
Abstract: Unisexual reproduction is a widespread phenomenon in invertebrates
and lower vertebrates. If a former sexual reproducing species becomes
parthenogenetic, we expect traits that were subject to sexual selection to
diminish. The bushcricket Poecilimon intermedius is one of the few insect
species with obligate but diploid parthenogenetic reproduction. We
contrasted characters that are involved in mating in a sexually sibling
species with the identical structures in the parthenogenetic P. intermedius.
Central for sexual communication are male songs, while receptive females
approach the males phonotactically. Compared to its sister-species P.
ampliatus, the morphology of the hearing organs (acoustic spiracle, crista
acustica) and the function of hearing (acoustic threshold) are reduced in P.
intermedius. Nonetheless, hearing is clearly maintained in the
parthenogenetic females. Natural selection by acoustic hunting bats,
pleiotropy or a developmental trap may explain the well maintained hearing
function.
URL: http://www.springerlink.com/content/fn63763336523032/
For reprints please contact: Gerlind U. C. Lehmann (Email:
Kind regards
Sonja Amoser
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University of Vienna, Dept. of Behavioural Biology
Sonja Amoser, PhD
Althanstrasse 14
1090 Vienna
Austria
tel: +43 (1) 4277 54467
fax: +43 (1) 4277 54506
mobile: +43 (664) 500 61 06
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